Weekend Links: Death and Lawsuits

“Painter of light” Thomas Kinkade died this weekend. A coroner will determine the cause of death. [L.A. Times]

60 Minute’s Mike Wallace died at the age of 93. Between this and Morley Safer’s features on Kinkade and art fairs, 60 minutes has been in my news circles more than I’ve ever seen them. [The Internet]

Last week in stupid lawsuits: Jonathan Sobel sues William Eggleston for creating a larger sized edition of the photograph he bought in a different medium and size. This is perfectly legal, and the new edition will only increase the value of his print but, uh, the suit exists anyway. [Felix Salmon]

Relatedly,”[t]he bogus religiosity which now surrounds original works of art, and which is ultimately dependent on market value, has become a substitute for what paintings lost when the camera made them reproducible. Its function is nostalgic. It is the final empty claim for the continuing values of an oligarchic, undemocratic culture. If the image is no longer unique, and exclusive, the art object, the thing, must be made mysteriously so.” John Berger. [Ms. Jen Bekman]